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Wood hits 200 innings in abbreviated outing

Wood hits 200 innings in abbreviated outing

9/21/13: Travis Wood holds Atlanta to one run over seven strong innings, allowing just five hits while striking out seven Braves

By Carrie Muskat
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MLB.com |

ST. LOUIS -- Cubs starting pitcher Travis Wood picked up his 200th inning of the season, and had to work for it.

Manager Dale Sveum announced prior to Friday night's game that Wood would start the series opener against the Cardinals, pitch one inning, and then be done.

"It's just to protect him and get his milestone, the 200 innings," Sveum said. "We made that decision and he was OK with it. There's no need to push him any further."

It was a long first inning. Wood retired the first two batters, helping himself by catching Carlos Beltran's popup near the Cardinals' dugout for the second out. He then gave up three straight hits, including a two-run double by Yadier Molina. David Freese walked, and Jon Jay followed with an RBI single. Wood intentionally walked Pete Kozma and then struck out Lance Lynn.

Wood allowed three runs on four hits with two walks on 37 pitches.

The Cubs wanted Wood to reach 200 innings but didn't want him to overtax his arm, and decided before the game to shut him down after one inning.

This is the first time in Wood's career that he's reached 200 innings in a single season. He joins teammate Jeff Samardzija (207 2/3 innings) in reaching the milestone. Entering the game, only two other pairs of National League teammates had reached 200 innings this season: Philadelphia's Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels and Cincinnati's Mat Latos and Homer Bailey. With 4 1/3 innings on Friday, the Cardinals' Lance Lynn would join teammate Adam Wainwright in the 200 club.

Wood and Samardzija will be the first pair of Cubs teammates to reach 200 innings since Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly did so in 2008.

Wood has had no problems with his arm or health, Sveum said.

"It's just a lot of innings, pitches," Sveum said. "He's thrown about 100 pitches every start. He can get that milestone out of the way and he doesn't have to prove anything else."